As a part of the ‘December to Remember’ Tourism Fest, an initiative of the District Administration and Department of Tourism, an Heritage Walk was organised early this morning.
Around 100 people participated in the Heritage Walk which was flagged off by DC C. Shikha. Speaking on the occasion, DC Shikha said that the Heritage Walk was organised to encourage more and more people to participate.
The walk, which started at Town Hall premises, passed through Clock Tower, Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple, K.R. Circle, Devaraja Market, K.R. Hospital, Mysore Medical College and Research Institute (MMC&RI), City Central Library, CAVA. Later, the participants and the officials were taken to Hotel Paras for breakfast. DC Shikha was present till the end of the Heritage Walk.
Prof. (retd.) Rangaraju and journalist Echanur Kumar explained the history of heritage buildings to the participants of Heritage Walk.
DDPI H.R. Basappa, DDPU K.M. Puttu, Nehru Yuva Kendra Convener M.N. Nataraj, Department of Urban Development Project Director Lingannaiah, University of Mysore Dean Rudraiah and others were present.
Dec. 26 events: 6 am to 9 am: Heritage Walk (cycling for students) starting from Balarama Gate (Mysuru Palace); 10 am to 12 noon: Boating at Karanji Lake; 11 am to 12 noon: Carol Singing at St. Philomena’s Church.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Thursday , December 25th, 2014
Plays from the city travelled across the world and the seven seas, new forms flourished… It was an exciting year for the city’s theatre scene
The Bangalore theatre scene, this year was marked by new productions, new forms, re-runs of older plays, and plays from the city staged abroad. Apart from the regular theatre festivals, including The Hindu MetroPlus Theatre Festival and Jagriti Season 2014, Ranga Shankara celebrated turning a decade and the 60th birth anniversary of veteran theatre personality, Shankar Nag, with a theatre festival that showcased some of the best contemporary Indian productions.
S. Surendranath, artistic director of Ranga Shankara, names three. “Ramneek Singh’s Chidiyon Ka Pinjra was very well received by the audience. Abhishek Majumdar’s Kaumudi was one of the best productions that happened in Indian theatre. The writing, the performances and the overall structure were excellent. And A Straight Proposal from Delhi was an eye opener.”
A scene from Trivial Disasters. Photo: special arrangement
Nimi Ravindran and Shiva Pathak are ecstatic with how much they have achieved with Sandbox. “We have done 110 shows. There have been 35 shows of Anish Victor’s Koogu. It was staged in Delhi, Kolkata and Assam and even travelled to Kenya. We also had 26 shows of Ajay Krishnan’s Trivial Disasters,” says Nimi. The focus of Sandbox is to stage plays at alternate spaces. Shiva adds that performances, so far, have primarily been held in home spaces. “But we have also had plays at offices, at academic spaces like IIHS quite a few performances at Humming Tree in Indiranagar and at Beaglesloft.”
A scene from Koogu. Photo: special arrangement
Remote Bangalore, presented by Rimini Protokoll and produced by Goethe-Insitut, Max Mueller Bhavan, was another unique theatre experience for Bangaloreans. The ‘performance’ involved a re-look at the city through a tour through undiscovered spaces. Sandbox Collective closely collaborated with German-based Rimini Protokoll for Remote Bangalore. Sandbox is set to welcome 2015 with travelling with The Company Theatre’s Piya Behrupiya to Chile.
2014 was yet another year of achievement for Abhishek Majumdar. He won the first Shankar Nag Theatre Award. His theatre company The Indian Ensemble, which he founded with Sandeep Shikhar, also had a fruitful year. Two landmark productions, Thook, commissioned by the Hunger for Trade Project, an international theatre network, and Kaumudi, were presented by Indian Ensemble. “It was a challenging year for us,” says Abhishek. “We have never had two openings in the same year. Thook andKaumudi were very different productions. Also, Indian Ensemble came together in a way that has made us very happy. We had our first international tour as a company. We travelled to the United States and performed at Carriage House Theatre in Hartford Connecticut and the Iseman Theatre at Yale.”
This year Indian Ensemble started the Director’s Programme. “It was started with four students, Basav Biradar, Amit Sharma, Anju Alva Naik and Karen D’Mello. The students have already put up individual scenes from Sakharam Binder.”
There were other members from Indian Ensemble who won awards and acclaim for their work. Ramneek Singh received the Inlaks Scholarship to continue his studies at LISPA and Anshuman Acharya won the Hindu MetroPlus Playwright Award.
Bangalore Little Theatre, the city’s oldest English theatre group, lived up to their reputation of staging stunning productions, including Finding Ananda, a tribute to Swami Vivekananda on his 150th birthday, Ira Hauptman’s Partition, directed by Sridhar Ramanathan, both held as part of the History of Ideas Programme, and Our Iceberg is Melting, directed by Amjad Prawej.
Vijay Padaki, director of BLT, says: “One of the most successful productions in the History of Ideas programme has been The Prophet and The Poet. Prasar Bharati commissioned a tele-film of the play. It was broadcast by Doordarshan twice in the year. An event of great significance was a theatre festival facilitated by BLT. It involved four other theatre groups of Bangalore, and was a tribute to the playwright-statesman Vaclav Havel. The experience of the Theatre Collective was presented by me in an international conference in Prague on Havel’s life and works. BLT organised the All-India Arts and Heritage Management Conclave that was held in Bangalore.”
Actor and director Vivek Madan says this year a lot of shows travelled abroad. “There were a lot of collaborations. New forms developed because of Sandbox Collective. There was also Zip Zap Pow, an all-woman, one-minute festival.”
But 2014 was also a year of loss and bereavement for the theatre community. One of the most talented light designers in the city, Beary Mustafa passed away, leaving behind a void in the theatre community.
“We worked together for ten years. It is a huge thing to adjust to going to a theatre space and not seeing him,” says Abhishek.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Sravasti Datta / December 29th, 2014
‘Vihar Utsav,’ a three-day boating festival has been organised by Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK) at Karanji Lake in city from Dec. 26. It is an opportunity for the visitors to take a boat ride in the lake located at the foothills of Chamundi Hill.
It is extending discounts for adults and children to get them to visit the lake when they are in the city this festival season. The charges for boat ride are Rs.20 for adults and Rs.10 for kids. Given that the Utsav is scheduled during the extended holiday season, it is likely to attract travellers in hordes.
Vihar Utsav is part of the Mysuru Utsav, the tourism promotion activity undertaken by the District Administration along with Tourism Department which will be launched tomorrow.
The event also includes heritage walks, adventure sports like walking from the foot of Chamundi Hill to the Hill shrine. A women band from Switzerland is also scheduled to perform at the Balaram Gate of the Mysuru Palace as part of the festival.
It may be recalled, during the Dasara season, DC C. Shikha had tasked Executive Director of Mysuru Zoo B.P. Ravi to work out details for a single-ticket entry pass system, designed to cut down the time taken to get entry tickets at places of tourist interest in the city and its surroundings.
Karanji lake attracts 1,000 visitors a day. During 2013-14, it attracted 3.19 lakh visitors, raising Rs. 73.21 lakh in revenue for the Zoo.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday , December 24th, 2014
Mohan Manoraj from Mysuru was consecrated and installed as the Bishop of the Church of South India (CSI) in Karnataka Southern Diocese recently.
He was installed at a ceremony organised by the CSI Moderator G. Dyvasirvadam at CSI Shanthi Cathedral, Balmatta, in Mangaluru.
During the ceremony, followed by a short procession, the moderator consecrated the new Bishop by presenting a copy of Bible and the Pastoral Staff. Prayers were sung and various religious rituals were performed as the new Bishop was installed. During his address, Bishop Mohan Manoraj said: “In the past, there was a belief that Bishop leads the people, now things are different. Where there are people of God, there will be a Bishop. He is for common man, who is nearer to God.”
About Mohan Manoraj:
Mohan Manoraj, born in 1954, is a postgraduate in Sociology from University of Mysore, Bachelor of Divinity KTC (SSC) and M.Th Social Analysis TTS (SSC). In his previous assignment, he was the Priest of Sawday Church in Mysuru. He has served as Vice-President of Karnataka Southern Diocese (KSD) and Convenor of Socio-Economic Concern Committee, KSD. He has worked in various posts in Synod level as well. At present, he works as guest lecturer at Karnataka Theological College in Mangaluru.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday , December 24th, 2014
‘104 Women Will Inspire,’ a book authored by Dr. M.C. Mohan Kumari (Gita Mahadevprasad), wife of Co-operation Minister H.S. Mahadevprasad, will be released by Chief Minister Siddharamaiah at a programme organised by Sangama Pratishtana, Gundlupet, at Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan (BVB), near Hotel Chalukya, Bengaluru, on Dec. 31 at 11 am.
Suttur Seer Sri Shivaratri Deshikendra Swamiji will grace the occasion. Higher Education & Tourism Minister R.V. Deshapande, Co-operation Minister H.S. Mahadevprasad, critic Narahalli Balasubramanya and Karnataka Lekakiyara Sangha President Dr. Vasundhara Bhupathi will be the chief guests.
Jnanapeetha Awardee Dr. Chandrashekara Kambara will preside over the programme.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Wednesday , December 24th, 2014
LOVE FOR KANNADA: Youth from Haveri, Gopal, spreading the message of Sahitya Sammelana through bicycle tour.
As Shravanabelagola, well known pilgrimage and tourist spot, is gearing up to host ’81st All India Kannada Sahitya Sammelana’ of Kannada Sahitya Parishat, a youth from Haveri is busy spreading the message about the conference.
24-year-old Gopal has set out on a bicycle tour from his home town in North Karnataka and is planning to cover all the 30 districts before commencement of the three-day Kannada literary meet on February 1.
Studied upto second year Pre-University, Mr. Gopal set out on his ‘Kannada akshara jatre’ on November 23. So far, he had covered Haveri, Hubballi, Davanagere, Chamarajnagar, Ramanagar, Bengaluru districts and entered Kolar a couple of days ago. He continued his tour through Chickballapur district.
Mr. Gopal instantly attracted the attention of people with his red and yellow coloured clothes symbolizing the Kannada flag. Also, his bicycle has been coloured with the same colours and carried the Kannada flag. People flock him as he enters every village, town and city.
“I am happy that people receive me with love and affection and inquire about my health”, says Mr. Gopal. While appreciating his love for Kannada, people voluntarily arrange for his food and stay the night.
This is second such journey for Mr. Gopal. He toured on his bicycle when the 80th meet was held in Haveri last year. However, he was not happy about that tour as he could not cover entire Karnataka. “I have decided to cover all the districts this time around to take the message of Kannada conference to more people”, he said.
Twin message
Spreading the message of environment protection was also his motto. Though he could have opted for a motorcycle for the purpose, he chose bicycle to propagate the importance of environment conservation.
The message written on the rear side of his bicycle read, “Cycle Balasi, Indhana Ulisi, Parisara Samrakshisi” (Use cycle, save fuel and preserve environment).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Vishwa Kundapura / Kolar – December 28th, 2014
by K. Vijaya Kumar, Former Jt. Director of Information & Publicity
This is a fascinating story which comes back to my memory where a grandfather starts manufacturing wooden toys for tiny-tots and school children of Mysuru way back in 1930s and his grandson carrying them later across the global market for the children of various other countries.
The other day, my long time friend V. Praphulla Chandra sent me a book on his father M. Veerappa in Kannada published by JSS Granthamala and released by Suttur Swamiji recently (author: L. Shivalingappa). Though this small book attaches importance by terming Veerappa as ‘Founding Father of Painting Vachanas’ (which depicts the gist of a Vachana) with many of his such paintings in print, it narrates his multifaceted art life which mainly includes wood-based handicrafts. Veerappa had also served as Assistant Superintendent of Chamarajendra Technical Institute (CTI), being an old student of the Institute in 1918-20.
An artist-turned-craftsman: Though Veerappa started his career as an artist after doing his Master’s at JJ School of Art in Bombay, by opening Bombay Art Studio in Mysuru, an opportunity given by Charles Tod Hunter (British), who was Personal Secretary to Krishnaraja Wadiyar, turns him manufacturing educational and play toys for children in 1930s. Charles also used to carry a few toys as gift to children in his country when he would visit during Christmas. Dewan Sir Mirza Ismail also had appreciated these toys, suggesting some modifications.
I remember to have seen him in his small toy shop opened in the first floor of a building (above R. Krishnaswamy Stationery Stores) by the side of Chamundeshwari Talkies on Sayyaji Rao Road.
Encouragement by Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay: The turning point, perhaps, was in 1959 when Kamaladevi Chattopadhyay, the then Chairman of All India Handicrafts Board, visited his Mysuru Toys Company in V.V. Mohalla. Impressed with the works of Veerappa, the Board encouraged its further growth.
By then, the Government of India had already sponsored Veerappa for a training in lacquer art and art of packing in Japan. The letters he wrote to his son late V. Gowrishankar, describing vividly his experience starting from his ship journey from Calcutta Port to Tokyo and the dedication of Japanese to their work and way of life was published later as a book titled ‘Sayonara Japan’ (so popular, it found three editions— 1959, 64, and 69).
Mysuru Toys Factory on Nanjangud Road: The Mysuru Toys Company founded by Veerappa in 1935 with production centre on Kalidasa Road in V.V. Mohalla, grew over the years as his son V. Praphulla Chandra and grandson Satish P. Chandra, a Master’s Degree holder in Business Management from Princeton, USA, established a factory in eighties on Nanjangud Road near Kadakola, extending its wing to manufacturing houseware products along with wooden toys, exporting them abroad. Now the factory is closed.
UNICEF for toys and IKEA for housewares: Having found Mysuru Toys conform to the International Safety Standards, UNICEF wanted them to be supplied globally for children. Similarly, the popular housewares company of Sweden, IKEA started purchasing home furnishing commodities to be sold in their outlets. I was pleasantly surprised to come across Mysuru Toys in a store in Canada where my son lives (Burlington, Ontario) during one of my visits.
Best Export Award: Satish Chandra got the Best Export award three times given by All India Toys Manufacturing Association besides being selected for a foreign trade in wooden toys to North America and Europe. He has now settled in Bengaluru and owns Global Tech Park (P) Ltd.
Endowment in memory of Veerappa: V. Praphulla Chandra’s family have recently established an Endowment in the name of M. Veerappa at JSS Mahavidyapeetha, to honour an outstanding artist every year — one year under fine arts and another year under handicrafts alternatively — calling it ‘Artist M. Veerappa Award’ with a cash prize of Rs. 68,000 (Veerappa lived for 68 years).
The adage ‘Artist is mortal but art is immortal’ applies to the art of Veerappa, who had attained the single-mindedness and concentration as an artist par excellence. One can find his paintings in the State Archaeology Museum in Wellington Lodge, ‘Chitralaya,’ a private gallery, his earliest residence now renovated on 6th Main, 6th Cross, V.V. Mohalla where his another grandson Gowrishankar Sanjay lives. Another grandson, Santosh Shivanna is running a showroom called ‘Woodlife’ nearby on Adipampa Road, where adjoining Veerappa’s another son, my friend M.V. Subramanya (formerly of Perfect Industries, Printing Division) lives.
e-mail: kumarkv59@gmail.com
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / Monday , December 22nd, 2014
The Danish Architect Mogens Thiesen will be in Mysuru from Dec. 22 to Dec. 30. Mogens Thiesen was working for the Danish Government during The Danish Mysore Project in the early sixties. He was the Architect at the project between the Indian Government and the Danish Government.
Mogens Thiesen will be visiting The Danish Mysore Project and his former staff living in Mysore.
Mogens Thiesen will also celebrate his 80th birthday together with his old friends in Mysore and his oldest son, daughter-in-law and four grand-children.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday , December 22nd, 2014
Girijan Social Activist Dr. Jerry Pais is seen releasing the Kannada Version of ‘Early Childhood Care and Education Policy’ during the workshop in city this morning as NACDIP Forum President (South India) Dr. Krishnan, Nisarga Foundation President Nanjundaiah, District Child Protection Officer Jayaram and others look on
Mysuru :
A day-long workshop on ‘Learning other languages through mother tongue’ organised jointly by National Advocacy Council for Development of Indigenous People (NAC-DIP)Karnataka Forum and Nisarga Foundation commenced this morning at Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra on Mysuru-Nanjangud road here. About 50 representatives of Adivasi Youth are attending the workshop. The Kannada Version of ‘Early Childhood Care and Education Policy’ was released on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering Women and Child Welfare Department Deputy Director Radha said that most of the adivasis had come to the main stream of society but still a few were languishing in dark oblivious of their rights. She suggested NGOs to meet such adivasis and spread awareness among them. She opined that child marriage itself was a violation of Child Rights which should be curbed totally. She advised adivasis to send their Children to Anganavadi centres to get access to nutritious food.
Girijan Social Activist Dr. Jerry Pais presided. NACDIP Forum President (South India) Dr. Krishnan, Nisarga Foundation President Nanjundaiah, District Child Protection Officer Jayaram and others were present at the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / Monday , December 22nd, 2014
The district administration recently opened a maize procurement centre at the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee (APMC) yard here for purchasing maize from farmers at Minimum Support Price (MSP).
According to a release issued here, the government has fixed Rs. 1,100 a quintal MSP for maize which was being purchased in other APMCs of the district including Basavanabagewadi and Indi.
Though the State government was offering Rs. 1,100 a quintal, if the Union government announces financial aid to State governments purchasing the commodity, then an additional Rs. 210 a quintal would be deposited into the accounts of farmers, the release said.
The release made it clear that it was procuring maize only from small and marginal farmers.
For further details, farmers could contact branch manager of the respective APMC, or call on 08352-250691, the release added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Firoz Rozindar / Vijayapura – December 27th, 2014
